Get outdoors for Up West Winterfest 2014 activities and events

Organizers of this year’s Up West Winterfest want everyone to get physically active in West Prince’s great outdoors. They have organized numerous events Jan. 10-19 specifically to get people outside and moving.

Up West Winterfest offers lots of indoor and outdoor fun for people all ages. Enjoying outdoor fun are, from left, Jazzlyn Smallman, Sarah Hart and Isaiah Dixon with Chantel Henderson, a volunteer with the Western P.E.I. Recreation Council's Learn-to-Snowshoe program.

This year, festival organizers have partnered with P.E.I. 2014 to organize an even greater number of events to help kick off and celebrate this special anniversary of the 1864 Charlottetown Conference.

Some of the events are being held indoors but plenty will be happening outside.

In addition to promoting healthy living among citizens, Up West Winterfest aims to boost tourism and business.

“It’s great to see the local communities and towns working together to create so many active and fun events in what is often a quiet time of year,” says Up West Winterfest event co-ordinator, Courtney McCue.

Rodd Mill River Resort is a major partner in several of the Winterfest activities. At any time during the festival, people may take advantage of the Mill River Ski Shop’s special Winterfest prices for equipment rentals. Its outdoor fun centre offers skiing, skating, sledding, snowshoeing and outdoor slides, geo-caching on the ski trails, poker runs on the ski trails and more.

The fun will also move into the West Prince communities of Tignish, Alberton and O’Leary, with events such as ice fishing all day Jan. 18 and 19 on the town pond in Alberton.

Other events include hockey development camps at all three community arenas and curling tournaments at the Maple Leaf Curling Club in O’Leary and the Alberton Community Curling Club. Community rinks will also host open skating sessions (fancy dress skates, family skates, etc.)

“You can even try your hand at curling. If competitive spirit is more your style, there will be Amazing rallies organized in every community,” added McCue.

Up West Winterfest offers lots of indoor and outdoor fun for people all ages. Enjoying outdoor fun are, from left, Jazzlyn Smallman, Sarah Hart and Isaiah Dixon with Chantel Henderson, a volunteer with the Western P.E.I. Recreation Council's Learn-to-Snowshoe program.